Capital One's London to Brighton Trek

Accommodation

Two nights of hotel accommodation is included in your challenge costs. Hotels will be 3* and twin share. We are unable to offer single supplements on this challenge.

Challenge timings

You will need to arrive at the registration point for 6am for a safety briefing and a 6.30am start. We expect the challenge to take between 10-12 hours each day to complete, and we aim to have everyone finished by 7pm each day.

Please note: Precise details and timings will be made available in your Final Details that are sent out one month prior to the challenge.

Terrain

The majority of this challenge takes place using paths and quiet country lanes. The terrain is undulating and can be muddy and may therefore be slippery at times.

There are also several sections of urban walking along busy roads.

Weather

As you know, the weather in the UK can be highly unpredictable and at times erratic, so being prepared is the key! Please check the weather forecasts up to the challenge to ensure that you bring clothing suitable for all weather, including warm and sunny temperatures as well as wind and downpours.

Getting to and from the challenge

We will confirm all of your 'Final Details' one month prior to the challenge.

The registration point and start of the trek will be from Capital One’s London office in central London.

The trek finishes in Brighton.

London based associates will be able to travel back by train (cost will be covered). Nottingham based associates will travel by coach, which will be arranged by Capital One. 

Toilets

There will be bathroom facilities both at the start and end of each day of the trek. However, during the challenge such facilities will otherwise be limited to the great outdoors!

Why book with Charity Challenge

• We are a multi-award winning challenge events company with over two decades of professional experience organising and leading challenges worldwide 
• The very best walking leaders, who are fully qualified, highly experienced, knowledgeable and fun. They will do everything to help you complete the challenge and have a great time doing it.
• Engraved medal at the finish
• Fully supported walking challenge. Checkpoints, walking leaders and support vehicle.

Safety

Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of our participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up Challenge Safe, a thorough safety management system. Challenge Safe formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the challenge activity itself. Your welfare is absolutely paramount!

Here are a couple of important points that you should be aware of:

• The terrain on the challenge is often muddy and in wet conditions can be extremely slippery. Please make sure that your walking boots/shoes have good grip. Sports trainers are not appropriate as they lack grip.
• The British weather is notorious for changing! Please make sure you carry an additional warm layer, waterproof jacket and trousers and a hat and gloves.
• The route can be remote at times with no access to top up water bottles or snacks. Ensure that you bring enough with you to last the full day, so you can keep your energy levels up and keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of fluids.

Training

This challenge is a long, sustained event of 10-12 hours per day and covering varied terrain. Therefore, it requires a good level of fitness. The ideal training for this challenge is, naturally, walking along similar terrain. However, if you do not have the luxury of living near the great outdoors, then the gym or walking in your local area are good places to start.

Most training should be part of an ongoing lifestyle, but if this is not the case then you should begin training 1-2 months prior to the challenge and gradually build up. Remember to use the clothes, equipment and especially the shoes that you will be wearing on the challenge in order to get them worn in. The more you exercise before the challenge, the more you will get out of it. Also see your Charity Challenge Fitness Training notes.

Clothing and equipment

This challenge takes place on footpaths and can be away from roads and immediate access to vehicle evacuation. It is therefore extremely important that you come prepared with the correct kit for this challenge.

Please ensure that your waterproof jacket is able to keep you dry when subjected to rain for several hours at a time, and that you also have waterproof trousers as legs get just as wet as tops. Footwear should also be waterproof and most importantly should have good grip. Sports trainers are not appropriate for the terrain of this challenge. We also ask you to ensure that you bring with you a warm layer, along with a hat and gloves.

Once you book you will have access to kit discounts with our partners Cotswold Outdoor.

Please be aware that because of the environment that this challenge takes place in our leaders may ask to see the vital parts of your kit. Participants found without kit marked on the kit list may not be allowed to take part in the challenge.

How do we follow the route?

This is a leader led challenge and the route is not marked with arrows. Your leaders are experienced navigators and it will be their responsibility to show you the way.

It is therefore essential that you remain with your leaders at all times.

How is the group managed?

We employ experienced and fully qualified walking leaders to accompany and lead you. The walking leaders are first aid qualified and have extensive experience in leading expeditions throughout Britain and overseas. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group. They will be carrying full safety equipment and first aid kits with them at all times and will be in radio communication throughout.

This challenge is designed as a team challenge, and we would encourage everyone to support each other throughout the day. If it does become necessary to split the group into different walking speeds then your leaders will be responsible for facilitating this.

Food and drink

A packed lunch will be available to you during each day of the trek. We would advise that everyone also bring some of their own snacks and at least 2 litres of water to keep them going during the days. Water and snacks will be available at checkpoints approx. every 3-4 hours.

At the hotels breakfast will be provided along with dinner.

Please note that breakfast on the first morning is not included and you should arrive at the start fully fuelled for the day ahead.

Level of difficulty

The London to Brighton Challenge is graded as extreme. This is the perfect challenge for participants who are of an adventurous spirit and an open mind and who have undertaken other long distance walking challenges before.

• Covering 100km over two long days of trekking
• Taking on varied terrain, from muddy footpaths to quiet country lanes
• Walking between 10-12 hours each day

Emergencies

Your leaders are trained to deal with emergency situations in remote areas and will be carrying a mobile phone and radios in case the emergency services need to be contacted. The event is not run as a race and you will never be encouraged to walk at a pace ‘beyond your ability’. There will always be a wide variety in people’s walking abilities which will be carefully managed by the leader team. This team will always keep the group together for maximum safety and set a sensible pace for all to achieve this challenge within 12hrs. If we find that you are unable to trek at all, then we will arrange for you to be collected and taken back to the car park in Old Hunstanton.